Engaging in self-directed leisure activities during a homework-free holiday: Impacts on primary school children in Hong Kong

Engaging in self-directed leisure activities during a homework-free holiday: Impacts on primary school children in Hong Kong

• Tam, Vicky C. Hong Kong Baptist University
• Chu, Phoebe Hong Kong Christian Service
• Tsang, Viola Hong Kong Christian Service

Journal of Global Education and Research, 7(1), 64-80, 2023

USF M3 Publishing

2023

• N Students & Student Services
  • NM Student Life & Leisure Activities, Summer Activities; Peer Groups

Academic Competence Agency Thinking Pathways Thinking Self-determination Theory Hope Theory

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Primary Education

• View Full Text 全文連結

Homework is a core pedagogical tool used by schools around the world. Yet concern for heavy homework load has been raised regarding stress on students and families and how it may overshadow opportunities for non-academic development. Drawing support from Self-Determination Theory and Hope Theory, an innovative intervention project was designed to create homework-free opportunities for school children to take part in freely chosen self-directed leisure activities. The project was implemented in four primary schools in Hong Kong during the Easter holiday in 2017 and 2018. A mixed-method evaluation was conducted to appraise the experiences of student participants as well as the project's impact on holiday satisfaction, homework attitudes and self-directed outcomes. This study's sample was comprised of 1,425 students enrolled in Primary levels 1 to 6. Participants reported in interviews that engagement in self-chosen, self-directed leisure activities were exciting and appealing. Pre- and post-holiday survey results with control-group comparisons confirmed that students who undertook self-directed leisure activities over a homework-free holiday gained enhanced agency thinking and academic competence while also becoming less inclined to see homework as meeting their immediate learning needs. Implications are also discussed regarding the benefits of self-directed leisure activities as well as school-based homework policies regarding assignment load. Copyright © 2023 USF M3 Publishing.

• English

Journal Articles

• 25775081

• 10.5038/2577-509X.7.1.1193

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/a43da6b2

2024-04-09